Abstract: A method of producing abrasion resistant coke from brown coal briquets in a shaft furnace comprises charging the coke briquets into the top of the furnace and removing coke from the bottom of the furnace while directing inert hot combustion gases into the furnace and through the briquets at a plurality of vertically spaced levels throughout the height of the shaft furnace. Gases are directed at temperatures to effect and successively lower stages of the furnace the preheating, predrying, carbonization, and cooling of the charge.

Abstract: A method of separating a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture residing in cooling same by stages, with the resulting liquid condensate composed of the olefins and methane with an admixture of hydrogen being withdrawn at each cooling stage, recovering a gaseous methane-hydrogen mixture with some admixed ethylene produced by demethanization in a demethanizer, and further cooling same, withdrawing the resulting liquid condensate adapted for use as a spraying means in the process of demethanization. Expanding the remaining gaseous methane-hydrogen mixture with the application of the vortex effect providing thereby a hot gasiform stream and a cold gasiform stream. Mixing said hot and cold gasiform streams and again expanding the resulting mixture with the application of vortex effect.

Abstract: A coke guide fumes control system includes a hood overlying a coke guide and apparatus for continuously evacuating the hood during a coke pushing operation. Several types of apparatus are illustrated. Some types are self-contained, including blowers and filter mechanisms mounted on the coke guide hood. The fumes and dusts from the pushing operation are evacuated through the filter mechanism under suction established by the blower, and the purified air pulled through the blower is exhausted to atmosphere. Alternatively, the hood can include slot-like nozzles cooperating with the blower to generate an air curtain which is directed down the sides of the coke guide to prevent the escape of contaminants through openings typically provided in the sides of such coke guide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recovering ethane from a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen, methane, ethane, and aromatics, comprising subjecting the gaseous mixture to a series of condensing steps to separate the components and flashing the so-obtained ethane to produce a substantially pure ethane product stream.

Abstract: An evaporator including a shell, upper and lower pulp chambers, and a heating chamber disposed therebetween, the chambers being formed by upper and lower transverse tube sheets mounted in the shell. Rigidly connected to said tube sheets are vertical tube members for heating liquor to be evaporated circulating therethrough. In the upper pulp chamber, mounted on the central portion of the upper transverse tube sheet is a boiling chamber of the liquor to be evaporated. The upper and lower pulp chambers and the boiling chamber are divided by upper and lower vertical partitions into twin sections. The twin sections of the lower pulp chamber are provided with connections for feeding the liquor to be evaporated, which are connected to a switch via a common pipeline.

Abstract: Pasty, aqueous sludges of industrial or sewage treatment origin are dried for further use as raw material. The sludge particles are loosened by intense motion and substantially dry gases are introduced under pressure into the loosened sludge. The moisture enriched gases are removed from the sludge. The loosening and drying may be facilitated by repeatedly and sequentially increasing and decreasing the total surface area of the sludge. The intense motion is imparted to the sludge by at least one sludge stirring member and the drying gases may be introduced through the stirring member. The surface area of the sludge may be increased by plough-shaped or scraper-shaped tools. The surface area of the sludge may be decreased by rollers.

Abstract: Low purity oxygen is produced by factional distillation of liquefied air in a double distillation column and an auxiliary distillation column. Feed air is supplied at two different pressures. The disclosed methods of handling intermediate oxygen-enriched liquid produced by the two columns and removing nitrogen-rich gas from the auxiliary distillation column permit the system to operate with lower energy requirements and smaller column diameter than conventional systems.

Abstract: In crystallization units such as wax crystallization units where a scraped surface double pipe heat exchanger type chiller is used, the improvement of replacing the scraped surface chiller tube with a porous tube to provide positive flow of coolant through the tube wall to prevent crystal deposition on the process side of the tube, whereby crystal degradation is eliminated and increased filter rate is obtained.

Abstract: Methane-containing gases with an appreciable content of carbon dioxide are scrubbed with cold methanol to remove the bulk of the carbon dioxide in a simple system comprising a single gas-liquid contact column and featuring regeneration of the methanol containing carbon dioxide solely by multiple-stage flashing. Land-fill gases containing methane and carbon dioxide as the principal components can be economically processed in such a system to yield methane-rich fuel gases.

Abstract: A process for low temperature fractionation of natural gas to recover as product propane and the heavier hydrocarbons with an efficiency of 90% or greater and an ethane content rejection of 90% or more. The process includes passage of the natural gas through several refrigeration zones followed by a first separation stage to separate liquid condensate from C.sub.1, C.sub.2 and C.sub.3 hydrocarbon gas. The gas stream is cooled further by expansion followed by a second separation stage to separate liquid containing C.sub.1, C.sub.2 and C.sub.3 hydrocarbons from the gas which contains only C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 hydrocarbons. Both streams are fed to a de-ethanizer fractionating column, with the liquid entering at a point intermediate the ends and the gas being utilized in a reflux condenser internal to the column above the point of entry of the liquid stream. Employment of the low temperature C.sub.1, C.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic change of operations in an air separation plant in increasing or decreasing the amounts of products. The present invention is characterized in that intended change values of the flow rate of feed air to be introduced into an air separation plant, the flow rate of liquid air recycled to an upper tower from a lower tower of a rectification column, the flow rate of recycled liquid nitrogen and the flow rate of an expansion turbine gas flowing in an expansion turbine are computed from the values of increased or decreased amounts of products.

Abstract: A process for purifying the off-gases from industrial furnaces and especially from waste incineration plants is described in which process the off-gases which contain acid, neutral and/or basic pollutants in the gaseous or solid form or in the form of a mist, are treated in an evaporative cooler and then in a dry purifier, in which they are freed from at least a substantial portion of the solid pollutants, and finally in a scrubber by means of a wash liquid. The temperature of the off-gases in the evaporative cooler is kept above the dew point, and the wash liquid in the scrubber is cycled through a slurry separator, from which suspension or solution of pollutants is withdrawn from the sludge separator and fed into the evaporative cooler and mixed in a mixing space in the latter with the hot off-gases.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for cooling a gaseous mixture wherein a fractional condensation of said mixture is carried out under a high pressure by using at least a first stage and a last stage of fractional condensation, the penultimate and the last condensed fractions are expanded down to a low pressure forming a main refrigerating stream, and at least the first condensed fraction of the cycle mixture is expanded down to an intermediate pressure between said high pressure and said low pressure forming an auxiliary refrigerating stream.

Abstract: A condenser for isolating solid substances from a vapor and gas mixture and pulps comprises a vertical cylindrical casing having a conical bottom and a vertical rotary drum accommodated in the casing and adjoining with its outer periphery to vertically extending internal protrusions of the casing walls in such a manner that the drum and the protrusions form a vertical transversal partition wall which is in a spaced relationship with respect to the casing bottom, and the interior of the casing represents a U-shaped space. Pipes for admission of a vapor and gas mixture and a pulp that does not contain rare-earth metals are provided in the upper portion of one inlet branch of the U-shaped space, and a pipe for discharge of the vapor and gas mixture cleaned from solid substances is provided in the upper portion of the other outlet branch of the U-shaped space. A pipe for removal of solid substances is provided in the lower portion of the conical bottom.

Abstract: In pneumatic low pressure dust extraction apparatus, filter bags are cleaned by reverse flow of air. Each cleaning operation includes a first shock phase of short duration (not longer than 0.05 sec) but at high flow intensity by which accumulated layers of dust are thrown off the outside of the bag, followed by a rinsing phase of greater duration (not longer than 1 sec e.g. 0.20-0.30 sec) but at lower flow intensity during which remaining dust is blown out of the filter cloth and the cloth is allowed to lie back gradually on its support. The apparatus includes a cleaning-air tank incorporated in the filter housing for storage of compressed air in the close vicinity of apertures of the filter bags. The height of the tank exceeds its distance from the bag apertures. There is a valve for each filter bag and it has delivery means extending into the region of the bag aperture. The duration of the reverse flow for cleaning is adjustable for obtaining optimum results suited to the operating conditions.

Abstract: An improved, multiple-well screen structure is provided which is especially adapted for use in a large scale reactor employed in oil shale processing operations. The screen includes a plurality of adjacent, juxtaposed concavities each presenting perforate sidewalls and a lower outlet opening. Preferably, the screen is circular in plan configuration and includes three sector-shaped (in plan) concavities respectively formed from cone sections. The sections are interconnected along arcuate, reinforced juncture lines to present a structurally sound material supporting, gas-pervious screen which can be easily and completely emptied using only gravity-induced material flow.

Abstract: A coke oven fumes control system includes a duct-and-car arrangement extending alongside the coke oven quench car track. The car of the duct-and-car system supports a hood movable into overlying relation with a selected portion of the quench car. An additional hood overlies the coke guide. A system of connecting ducts connects the coke guide hood through the quench car hood to the car of the duct-and-car arrangement, thereby providing evacuation of both the quench car hood and the coke guide hood. The quench car hood is divided into a plurality of sectors. Butterfly valve dampers are provided for controlling evacuation of the various sectors of the quench car hood, as well as the coke guide hood.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating a mixture of carbon dioxide and ethane derived from a prior separation stage. The separation is accomplished by freezing the carbon dioxide in an azeotrope of carbon dioxide and ethane and washing the ethane from the solid carbon dioxide with a liquid hydrocarbon having at least three carbon atoms. The freezing stage may be preceded by distillation of a carbon dioxide-ethane mixture to form the azeotrope. The carbon dioxide and wash hydrocarbon may be separated in a subsequent distillation stage. In addition, if desired, the ethane-wash hydrocarbon mixture may be similarly separated in a subsequent distillation stage. The method is useful in carbon dioxide separation facilities where it is desirable to recover ethane that would otherwise be lost.

Abstract: A pump for a radioactive waste concentrator in a shielded enclosure is mounted on a wheeled vehicle that travels on tracks, and a spare pump is mounted on an identical wheeled vehicle outside of the shielded enclosure, adjacent the tracks. If the pump fails, it is wheeled out of the shielded enclosure, and the vehicle carrying the spare pump is put on the tracks and wheeled into the enclosure for quick connection to the concentrator.

Abstract: A method for the removal of particulate matter as well as noxious gases and vapors from a gas stream. This is accomplished by means of charged droplets having a size between 60 and 250 microns and preferably between 80 and 120 microns. The droplets are generated by first ejecting a stable jet of liquid such as water. The liquid jet is broken up into charged droplets by applying an electric potential between the jet and the collecting walls of the scrubber. Since most gases are electronegative the droplets are preferably charged positively by the resultant electrostatic field. However, in case some of the particles are already charged it is preferred to generate charged droplets having a polarity which is the same as that of the particles. The method works well with particles having a diameter of approximately 0.01 micron or more and the droplets are preferably moved at an angle to the direction of movement of the gas stream to increase the relative velocity between the droplets and the particles.